SPP Event: DC Adequacy - What do we mean by “adequate”?
This is the third event in an SPP series exploring DC adequacy.Online
Tuesday 6 October 2026
09:30-10:45
The final session in our DC adequacy series will explore one of the most important questions facing the pensions industry: what does an adequate retirement outcome look like, and how can we measure progress towards achieving it? With speakers from the Resolution Foundation and the Living Wage Foundation, our panel will explore questions such as:
- What do we mean by “adequate”, and what targets should we be using?
- How does adequacy differ across different member cohorts?
- How can we mitigate key risks (including housing and later life care)?
- How can adequacy standards be applied in a way that works for savers in practice?
- What role can government policy play in delivering adequacy?
Speakers
Shelley Morris,
Head of Business Development & Policy, Living Wage Foundation
Shelley has 20 years experience in defined contribution pensions and joined the Living Wage Foundation in 2021 to lead the delivery of Living Pension. Formerly at Friends Provident and Aviva, she spent a decade as a Client Relationship Manager and later worked on proposition development and digital services for workplace pensions. Shelley was awarded the Unsung Hero award at the Professional Pensions ‘Women in Pensions’ awards in 2023 for her work on developing and launching Living Pension.
Martin Willis
Director, Howden
Martin is a Director and senior client relationship manager. He leads Howden’s defined contribution (DC) services to the Charity and Education sectors, and is the former Chair of the Society of Pension Professionals’ DC Committee.
He advises a range of not-for-profit organisations operating in the Arts & Culture, and Religious sectors, and beyond this provides consultancy support to a wide range of corporate and trustee clients, both UK and multi-national.
James Smith,
Chief Economist, Resolution Foundation
James joined the Foundation as Research Director in October 2018 and has been Chief Economist since February 2026. Prior to this he worked in a range of roles at the Bank of England and in the civil service, leading analysis of macroeconomic issues for policy. His work focuses on wealth, debt and housing as well as leading the Foundation’s work on macroeconomic policy.
Thibault Jeakings (Chair)
Partner, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Thibault has been working in pensions for over ten years and advises on all aspects of pensions law, helping trustees, employers, providers and insurers with issues ranging from innovative scheme structuring to day to day benefit queries. Thibault has a particular interest in investment issues and ESG and is a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers’ Investment and DC Sub-committee.
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